PROVIDENCE, R.I. - It was announced today (Feb. 24) that Providence College senior guard Bryce Cotton (Tucson, Ariz.) was named BIG EAST Men's Basketball Player of the Week. It marks the second time this season that he has been named Player of the Week. It is the first time a PC player has earned multiple BIG EAST Player of the Week honors since Marshon Brooks was named Player of the Week three times in 2011.

Cotton led the Friars to a 1-1 week as he averaged 25.0 points, 7.5 assists and 5.0 rebounds for the Friars. He also shot 7-13 from three point territory, 15-17 from the free throw line and played all 90 minutes in the Friars' two games, which included a double-overtime 82-79 loss to nationally ranked Villanova on February 18. Cotton scored a game-high 22 points, and added nine assists and seven rebounds against the Wildcats. In the Friars' 87-81 win at Butler on February 23, he scored a game-high 28 points and added six assists. Cotton was 5-7 from three-point territory and 7-7 from the free-throw line. Cotton leads the nation in minutes played 39.9 per game. He leads the BIG EAST in assists (5.9 apg) and ranks second in scoring (21.5 ppg).

Cotton is trying to become the fifth player from a major conference to average 20 or more points and five or more assists in a season since 2002. Cotton is averaging 21.5 ppg and 5.9 apg. The four players that accomplished this since 2002 were Jason Williams of Duke (21.3 ppg, 5.3 apg in 2001-02); Tyrese Rice of Boston College (21.0ppg, 5.0 apg in 2007-08); Evan Turner of Ohio State (20.4 ppg, 6.0 apg in 2009-10) and Nolan Smith of Duke (20.6 ppg, 5.1 apg in 2010-11).

The Friars (18-10, 8-7) will return to action on Friday, February 28 at Seton Hall at 7 p.m. on CBS Sports Network.